n IMAGE-IN CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CLUB: This club is open to all who have an interest in photography.

Our objectives are promoting the enjoyment of photography and digital art, offering training and activities and meeting the learning needs of each member whatever their level of skill.

This is achieved by presentations and tutorials, demonstrations in use of digital software, question and answer and critique evenings, studio sessions and external field trips, plus access to tutorials on the club website.

If you are interested come along to meet us on Tuesdays at 7pm at St Paul’s Church Hall, Walliscote Road, or, alternatively, call Jo on 07833 228777 for more information.

n THE A1 CAMERA CLUB: This week members were invited to the judging of our Panorama Competition by Carl Shellis, who previously had given a presentation on panorama photography.

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With an array of stunning images to judge, Carl had difficulty choosing between some stunning photographs.

The overall winner was Peter Ottley with a lovely panorama of Weston marina and a close second was Robert Copeland with his panorama of Bristol docks.

Many of our club members have photos displayed on our website www.a1cameraclubweston.co.uk

The club meets at the St Georges Community Centre, BS22 7XF, every Tuesday at 7.45pm. Contact Howard on 01934 521780, or via the website listed above, for more details.

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n THE RAFA CONCERT BAND: The Blakehay resident band’s busy season has started - look out for details of Weston concerts in adverts in the Mercury. Requests for the band continue and we will try to meet them if we can.

The search for competent players on brass and woodwind continues, especially on oboe and trombone. Please call if you are interested.

n WEST WOODSPRING ROTARY CLUB: On May 24 the club was addressed by Patrick Simpson, a successful local businessman who told of his role in the food industry and how he had established his business - a fascinating look behind the scenes of the fast food industry.

Arising out of the funds obtained from the club’s recent golf day, Melanie Stevenson, the president elect, presented the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance with a cheque for £500, which was much appreciated.

Our next meeting at Weston Golf Club is a business meeting on June 7, meet at 7pm for a 7.30 start. This will present anyone interested in Rotary with a good idea of how we will operate for the new Rotary year.

For more information go to www.westwoodspringrotary.org or contact Dick Richards on 01934 844214.

n LAKESIDE SOCIAL ACTIVITY CLUB: Members enjoyed an entertaining hour with Jean Routley who took us on a marvellous trip down memory lane thanks to her enchanting keyboard skills.

The June line-up includes a poetry afternoon, fish and chip supper, weekly film club and activity sessions, and regular coffee mornings.

Membership is open to older people living in the area and further information may be obtained by writing to Lakeside Court, Jasmine Way, Worle, BS24 7JN, or emailing lakesidecourtclub@hotmail.co.uk

n WINSCOMBE WI: Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on June 8 at Winscombe Church Hall, when we shall be having a talk by Mark Wilkins about the County Air Ambulance Trust.

For more information contact the president, Di Smithson, on 842968.

Visitors are always welcome to our meetings, and we charge £3, refundable if you become a member.

n THE BRIDGE PROJECT: Members are currently enjoying a summer programme of activities. Courses on ‘How to be happier’, ‘Let’s make a movie’ and ‘Poetry’ are offering opportunities to develop skills and confidence in a fun and friendly way.

The courses are being run at the Carlton Centre, Carlton Street, Weston. They are free and open to anyone, particularly those who are facing some change in their lives and looking for new ways of expressing themselves.

A four-week course on ‘Felt making’ begins on June 6 and there is a day of African drumming on June 11. To be sure of a place, please enrol by contacting thebridgeprojectns@hotmail.co.uk or ring Linda on 01934 416717.

n WESTON ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: The AGM was attended by former mayor, Councillor Phil Judd, his wife, and vice president Vince Russett.

The chairman, Rosemary Dowie, reported on a successful year with a growing membership and many visitors.

The evening proceeded with the election of committee members and a change to the constitution.

Chris Richards gave a talk entitled ‘Mining in Weston’ which was enjoyed by both members and visitors.

The summer programme will include a day of free events for everyone on July 16, comprising a seminar at the Blakehay from 9.15am-12.45pm, a walk in Weston town and one at Worlebury Hillfort and ‘Roman fun at the museum’ from 2-4pm, as part of the 2011 CBA Archaeological Festival.

n THE LIONS CLUB OF WESTON: We would like to thank the generosity of the customers of the local businesses that participated in our Easter egg draw which resulted in a total profit of £1,138.

All the proceeds will be used to meet the demands we receive from within the local community.

n WESTON FILM SOCIETY: The next showing for the society is Black Swan (15), an Oscar winner in 2011 and starring Natalie Portman.

A ballet dancer wins the lead in Swan Lake and is perfect for the role of the delicate white swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.

It is being screened at The Playhouse on June 8 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Free entry for society members, usual fees apply to all others.

n WESTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: John Crockford-Hawley was the speaker at the last meeting of the winter/spring session.

The talk was entitled ‘Parks, gardens and open spaces in Weston from 1810 to the present day’ and included all the parks in Weston, the Prince Consort Gardens, the cuckoo clock and the influence the Smythe-Pigotts had on the town.

The garden competition held in conjunction with Weston in Bloom will be partly sponsored by Wilkinson. There will be a prize of £25 for the best large, medium and small gardens as well as the best front garden. There will also be £10 for the best hanging basket. The competition is open to everyone in the Weston area and will be judged week commencing July 18. Entry forms can be obtained from the Trading Hut, Clarke’s Field Allotments, Rectors Way any weekend from 9.30am-12.30pm, or from Cynthia Filer on 514057.

Weston Flower Show will be held on August 13 at St Paul’s Church Hall, Walliscote Road. There will be classes for flowers, vegetables, pot plants, floral art, photography, homecraft and the children’s classes. Schedules can be obtained from the Trading Hut.

n INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WRINGTON VALE: President Lal welcomed members to the May meeting, and reminded them about the Big Wheel event in Weston to promote Inner Wheel and the National Osteoporosis Society.

She reported on a Young Carers weekend at Goblin Combe, to be shared with Rotary.

Members were encouraged to take part in the district golf and tennis tournaments to be held in early June.

The speaker for the evening was Janet Cryer, who gave a fascinating talk on the history and work of the charity Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. She explained how the dogs were trained for each individual’s specific needs before the president presented a cheque to the charity for £1,000 on behalf of the club.

n WESTON FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY: On May 23 members and guests enjoyed an afternoon with David Martin, from Wooton Bassett.

His subject ‘Losing the plot’ was based on his recently acquired allotment. His arrangements demonstrated the gradual progress made on his allotment. His beautiful arrangements were raffled at the end of the meeting.

The next meeting will be held on June 27 at 2.30pm at St Georges Hall, St Georges.

n BLEADON PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP: At the final meeting prior to the summer break It’s a Knockout was held.

This annual event enables the members to judge the best quality prints in colour and mono where each member submits a maximum of two prints. Members vote on the one they prefer out of two prints each time until the overall winner is made. This year Ken Tapley had first and second with a print in colour of a pelican and hibiscus.

Thank you to Trevor Hartgroves for organising the evening.

The club, under the direction of Sally Green, has generated a new website - www.bleadonphotographicgroup.moonfleet.com

New members will be most welcome in September. For any further information please contact Carol Wilson 01934 628070.

n MENDIP CALLIGRAPHY GROUP: 2011 sees members celebrate 21 years of calligraphy in the Mendips. Their biennial exhibition is on June 4 (10am-5pm) and June 5 (11am-4pm) at Burrington Parish Rooms. Entry is free.

There will be a range of pieces of work on show, drawn from a membership that includes complete beginners and professional calligraphers. Come and see the wide variety of styles and interpretations available to the modern calligrapher, and be inspired - we always welcome new members!

Visit mendip.calligraphy@blagdon.org for more information.

n KEWSTOKE LOCAL HISTORY GROUP: Members were gratified that all the transcribing and collation of the records of Kewstoke’s local history was so well received.

Local residents, together with many people who have local family connections but now live further afield, supported the Kewstoke Local and Family History Exhibition staged in the village hall.

Many people shared their memories, recalled events, or filled in further details of life in the village or updated the records of properties. We were able to share information with the Worle History Society and to liaise with Weston Family History Society and help people seeking gaps in their family research. We were reminded how important it is to check sources of information against the original records.

We valued the support of Brian Austin, who willingly shared some more of his extensive research of families and local history of the area. We would like to thank all who attended, supported and donated towards this highly successful event.

Please make use of the archives - they are available to be viewed any time by appointment.

n PROBUS MILTON: The speaker at our May meeting gave an interesting talk on the recycling of prescription medicines through the charity Intercare.

Several items were covered in our business meeting including a prospective trip to a cider producer and our annual lunch at Batch Farm.

We meet on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Hornets Rugby Club and if any retired gentlemen would like to join us please call 01934 622714 or visit our website probusmilton.org for more information.

n UPHILL BRUSHSTROKES: We are a group of amateur artists who meet once a month to enjoy an evening of painting.

We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm at Uphill Village Hall.

To find out more, come to our next session on June 9 at 7pm, talk to our members and join us for a little painting. Beginners and experienced painters will be welcome. For further details telephone Gerry on 01934 812611.

n DIABETES UK – WESTON DISTRICT GROUP: We are having a coffee and awareness morning at Locking Castle Church on June 18 from 10am-12.30pm.

There will be refreshments, stalls, and games and you are all welcome to join us. The aim is to raise funds for Diabetes UK and give people with diabetes any information they might need.

n WORLE HISTORY SOCIETY: Members have been researching the village’s involvement in World War Two for a couple of years.

Our book about Worle’s Home Guard was a great success and it is our hoped that we shall soon be able to publish several other volumes. Some of the air raid wardens, photographed at the back of the New Inn in early 1940, are still unnamed. You may recognise several of them, and if you do, please telephone Raye Green on 516773.

The society would like to produce an ARP book on the same format as the Home Guard book. The book depended entirely on the help given by our members and many other interested parties – thank you all.